Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness

Jesus said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matt. 5:6.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; And all these things shall be added unto you.” Matt. 6:33.

Righteousness is something that none of us has naturally. It cannot be inherited from our parents, neither can we produce it ourselves.

Paul writes, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” Rom. 3:10, 11.

Naturally we have no desire after God, or for His righteousness. Purity and holiness do not appeal to a natural person.

Naturally no one is hungering and thirsting after righteousness. People are thirsting after riches, power, pleasure, fun, and to satisfy the appetites and cravings of the flesh. There goes a murderer to kill, and a thief in the night to steal. There goes a pleasure-lover to a place of entertainment and a self-righteous Christian to church, feeling good about himself like the Pharisee. And they all perish; they all will be cast into the lake of fire.

Some people realize that righteousness is necessary for salvation and they pray for it, but do not receive it. It is not enough to ask for it; we must be hungering and thirsting for it, then only can we be filled with it.

A young person who delays his baptism and his commitment to God until a later time is not hungering and thirsting after righteousness.

A Christian who cannot do missionary work, nor visit the church meetings, because he is so busy with his daily work is not hungering or thirsting after righteousness either. He is hungering and thirsting after more money.

A professed Christian who does not read the Bible every day, nor prays without ceasing, is not hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Therefore, none of these mentioned will be filled with righteousness, and for this reason sin remains in their lives.

Paul writes, “Awake to righteousness, and sin not.” 1 Cor. 15:34. Here is the secret. Many have been sleeping spiritually and not realizing what they were doing. Satan lulls people to sleep; they are hypnotized by him.

Peter denied his Lord three times, not thinking that he was doing something wrong; until suddenly he wakes up, realizing his terrible sin, and in repentance goes and weeps bitterly. This waking up to realize his sin was his salvation.

This weeping bitterly like Peter is seeking after righteousness. Then God will fulfill His promise, by filling us with righteousness.

Sister White writes, “I saw some with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with God. Their countenances were pale and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness was expressed in their countenances; large drops of perspiration fell from their foreheads. Now and then their faces would light up with the marks of God’s approbation, and again the same solemn, earnest, anxious look would settle upon them.”

“As the praying ones continued their earnest cries, at times a ray of light from Jesus came to them, to encourage their hearts and light up their countenances.

“Some I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a thick cloud. The angels of God left these, and went to the aid of the earnest, praying ones.” EW, p. 269, 270.

This is the answer to what we must do. Pray without ceasing in great earnestness and agony.

Sister White continues, “We must be much in communion with God. Prayer in secret, prayer while the hands are engaged in labor, prayer while walking by the way, prayer in the night season, the heart’s desires ever ascending to God, –this is our only safety. In this manner Enoch walked with God.” RH, Nov. 8, 1887.

Enoch was victorious because he prayed without ceasing, and Sister White said that this is our only safety, also.

Bible study is also part of hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Sister White writes, “Just as soon as there is the diligent study of the Bible that there should be, we shall not fail of noting a marked difference in the characters of the people of God.” RH, April 9, 1889.

When we understand the high standard that we must reach, which is Christlikeness in the character, then we would not ignore any medium that is available for us to reach it.

At the same time Satan has been very active to put God’s people to sleep, that they would not be hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Many professed Christians are crossing the line of no return. They sin against the Holy Spirit by ignoring the only saving message that God has given us.

This is our message to the perishing world. Sin can be overcome, man can be changed to the image of God. The hidden treasure can still be found. We must prove it by our own lives; then only can we be true preachers of righteousness. God has made every provision for man to be an overcomer, even under the strongest temptation.

Angels of heaven marvel at this message and its effect on one who receives it. It is much more than forgiveness for sins. It is a new life in Christ, it is love so deep that we can never fully understand it, it is purity and holiness, it is Godlikeness and living without sin. This message is the water of life that Jesus offered to the Samaritan woman.

Yet the delegates in the Minneapolis conference in 1888 rejected this message and ridiculed it, by so doing they sinned against the Holy Spirit. They did not see the necessity for this message. They felt themselves rich and increased with goods, and having need of nothing. When the test came upon them 26 years later they all failed, and became enemies of God’s people.

“There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency. Of all sins it is the most hopeless, the most incurable.” COL, p. 154.

Humility of the heart is the first condition for receiving Christ’s righteousness. Yet it is very difficult to learn. Few people can say, “I must decrease,” “I must be less noticed.” This characteristic is totally opposite to the human nature. A humble person cannot be offended, no abuse will hurt him; he loves his enemies.

Is it your desire to live in the country where dwelleth righteousness? Where everyone is perfect and loves one another? Is it your desire to put away sin and the love of the world? If so, then there is the message for you, in the holy pages of the Bible. A message that will thrill your heart and change you into the perfect image of Christ. But you must hunger and thirst for it, then only can you be filled with righteousness. And then walk with God in a prayer connection, as Enoch walked and was victorious.
AMEN.

Timo Martin, Canada